Automatic window cleaner



May l2, 1959 PREssER AUTOMATIC wINnow CLEANER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March l5, 1956 INVENTOR LEISER PRESSER BY @if ATTORNEY May 12, 1959 L. PRESSER 2,885,708

AUTOMATIC WINDOW CLEANER Filed March 15, 195e 3 Sheets-Sheng?, 3

INVENTOR LEISER PRESSER. BY

ATTORNEY United States l This invention relates to automatic window cleaners, and is particularly directed to devices of this category provided with water-supply and window-wiper e1ements.

It is primarily my objective to provide a device which is connected to a source of motive power, and which will automatically clean a window with which it is operatively associated, thereby eliminating the need to employthe conventional manual means for such purpose. And in this aspect of my invention it is my object to provide the said device with means which can readily be mounted on a window frame, and which will be effective in cleaning selected sections or the entire area of a selected window, in a simple and rapid manner, thereby not only eliminating the cost of employing window cleaners, but also rendering available the device for performing the desired operations at any and all times.

Other specific objectives are the provision of guiding means whereby the cleaning element is movable along a predetermined path, reversible means for eectuating a reciprocating action across the entire window or selected portions thereof, novel holding means for the wiper element for maintaining a yieldable pressure against the window being cleaned, retractable supports for the wiper element whereby it may be removed from its operative position for replacement purposes or for permitting access to the window and the opening thereof, adjustable means for varying the position of the device on a window, and Waterejecting means for coaction with the wiper element.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a front View of one form of my invention shown mounted on the frame of a window with the wiper element in operative engagement with the window, the dot-dash lines showing the latch member (coactively associated with the retractable wiper holder) in its retracted-v position, fragmentary portions of said window and frame, and the hose line leading to the window cleaner, being shown.

. Figure 2 is a fragmentary section of Fig. l talcen along line 2 2, the dot-dash lines showing the wiper and holder therefor in retracted position, a spray of water being shown directed against the window.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary section of Fig. l taken sub-` stantially along line 3 3.

Figure 4 is a section of Fig. l taken substantially alongl Figure 5 is a section of Fig. l taken substantially alongvv Figure 7 is a fragmentary front View of a modifiedformV of my invention showing three wiper elements and associated parts in operative position.

atent O L carrier member 48 having a cylindrical bore 49 throughy ice Figure 8 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 7 taken substantially along line 8 8.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary section of Fig. 7 taken substantially along line 9 9.

Figure 10 is a section of Fig. 9 taken along line 10-10.

Figure 11 is a section of Fig. 7 taken along line 11 11.

Figure 12 is a section of Fig. 8 taken along line 12-12.

Figure 13 is a vertical sectional elevation of another modification of my invention, the section being taken along line 13 13 of Fig. 14, one of the wiper-holder members being shown by dot-dash lines in its retracted position.

Figure 14 is a rear elevation of Fig. 13 taken along line 15 15.

Figure 15 is a section of Fig. 13 taken along line- In the various forms of my invention illustrated in the drawings, one or more wiper-carrier means are mounted on a rotatably mounted carrier rod, preferably provided with theaded means interengaged with said carrier means, whereby upon an operative rotation of the rod the carrier means will be moved along said rod to effect an operative wiping action against the Window. There is also a guide member adjacent and in parallel relation to said carrier rod, a component of said carrier means being slidably mounted over said guide member, whereby the wiper element is maintained in operative position against the window, and is movable along a path detenmined by the position of said guide member. The various embodiments of my invention also include retractable holding means for the wiper element, said latter means being rotatably mounted over said guide member.

My invention includes the above-mentioned elements, among others, in various combinations to be hereinafter described. In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, the two lateral frames 20 and 21 of the Window 22 support the respective base components 23 and 24 of the apparatus. Base 23, carrying the motor 25, is secured to frame 21 by the fasteners 26, 27 and 28; and base 24 is secured to frame 21 by the fasteners 29 and 30. Disposed upon base 23 is the bearing mounting 31, supported in place by the said fasteners 27 and 28, said mounting having an arm 32 containing an apertured portion 33 serving as a bearing for the shaft 34. Aixed to said latter shaft is the gear 35 in engagement with the worm 36 of the motor shaft 37. Said shaft 34 also has aixed thereto the bevel gear. 38 in engagement with the coacting bevel gear 39 aiiixed to terminal shaft 40, the latter being supported by the bearing portion 41 of said base 23. In the embodiment illustrated, said shaft 40 is an integral part of the carrier rod 42 extending transversely across the window 22, the ,opposite portion of said rod containing terminal shaft 43 rotatably supported by the bearing portion 44 constituting an integral part of the said base 24.

The said carrier rod 42 contains a threaded portion 45 comprising a conventional double helical thread, one grooved portion 46 of said thread being in crossing relation to the other grooved portion 47, the arrangement being such that a carrier member (to be hereinafter described) in operative engagement with said thread will operatively move, upon a rotation of rod 42, rst in one direction while engaging one of said threaded portions, and then, after the movable member has traversed the entire length of threaded portion 45, in the opposite direction while engaging the other of said threaded portions. In the particular embodiment illustrated, there is mounted over said threaded portion 45 of carrier rod 42 the wiper- 3 which slidab1y extends said threaded portion 45. Said carrier member has extending therein the stud the inner tip 51 of which extends inwardly of said bore 49 and -is in engagement with one of the threads of said threaded portion 45, in known manner: The arrangement is such that upon an operative rotation of carrier rod 42, ,the said tip 51"willeride inl one ofsaidgroovedthreadedportions until it enters one of theend grooves- 80or. 8T which communicates with thev other` ofv the` grooved threaded portions, whereuponthe tip *51"*will'enter'saidr other threaded portion to cause a' reverse movement of the carrier member 48 alongthe extent' ofrodltZl A more detailedl description of'k the'operation ofI said double helicalportionis not deemed necessary for the` purpose of-this specihcation, since itsconstruction is welhknownp to-thoseskil1edin the artand further because adetailede description thereofis not'required foran understanding of this invention.

Carrier .member` 48 has'two depending legs 52- and S3 spaced apart to` accommodate the wiper arm` 5'4; The

latter contains'along the upper portion thereof-'the bored portion 55 through which extends the tubular guide-mem berf56, the proportions-ofithe-1atterbeingsuch thatthe said arm 54 isslidably andswingably mountedthereover.`

The-said arm 54 containsa central recessed portion 57,' whereby two wings S81and 59' (Fig: l)l are formed EX- teuding through said wings is the pin; andpivotallyv mounted uponl such pin isv the bracket 61 supporting ,the wiper.` element 62. In the lform-illustrated said elementcomprises the channel 63 andtheresilient wiper 64fpro truding therefrom, the latterbeing adapted; for wiping"- engagernent with-the-window in known manner: As will be seen from Fig.- 2, the pivotal bracket/61is spaceda bit' rearwardly from the medial wall 65 of arm 54, there-- byiproviding a clearance space 66"to permit some-playf` oithev wiper element 62 with respectA to the windowfZZ being cleaned thereby.

Pivotally mounted on screw 67 secured 'to leg 52 of carrier-48' is the latch member 68, thelatterf extendingr in frontn ofV said arm 54 when it is in operative position, asn` shown lby the full-line representation of Fig. 1. Maine taining saidlatch 68 in its said operative position is the' tipofthe pin 69, the head 70 ofwhich-is slidably mounted within the cylindrical aperture 71 within arm 54,` the spring 72 within said aperturebearing againstV said head` 70 to cause said pin 691to1frictionally-bear against* latchv 681 and hold it in its operative position. Thesaidspringgy 72 isrnaintained in tensionedf condition bythe-screw 73 in threaded engagement with the rearapertured portionf of! said arm 54, as-illustrated in Fig.- 2'(see also Fig. 11). ItF is-evident-that tension inthe spring 72 canbeadjusted-I by= a manual-turning of said screw 73.

AI4 water hose 74 (fromA a supplyfnotfshown)extendsf over` and in communicationwith` 'the nipple 75extendix`1g= outwardly from the tube S6, saidfinipplebeing-in corn-4 municationy with the internal passageway'76 ofthetube through the valve memberV 77.'operatively:manipulatedbyv the-handley 78", in known manner; Extending along'me length', of'said tube 56- and preferablyinpartial facing relation to the window 22 areapluralityfoffapertures 792 TheI arrangement is such that when the valve 78-is1open and water, is permitted to enter thetuber 56, jets; ojath'e.AA water will spray through said apertures against thawindow 22` above the` wiper element 62, as: illustrated. in Figs. 2 and 5.

In the operation of. this device, the operative rotation. ot motor 25 will cause the carrier rod, 42 to. rotate, ,Whereupon the carrier member 53 moves longitudinally along. said threaded portion 45. ofthe. carrier rod, 42. Tha moyementcontinues between the said end grooves, 80" and 81 of said threaded` portion,rthere being automaticA reversing movements of said carrier 48-in the manner, aforesaid. Such movement' causesv aA reciprocating .wiping action ofl the wiper element' 62 against the` window 22; thisvr action continuing vas longras 'thefmotor"25*-is'in=rota 4 tion. If the valve 77 is open, a plurality of jets of water from apertures 79 will be sprayed upon the window, as aforesaid, facilitating the cleaning action of the wiper element 62. Should it be desired to etect a dry wiping action, all that need be done is to shut oi the valve 77 by a manipulation of handle 78.

In the event it is desired to substitute another wiper for the resilient wiper 64, which is frictionally held in place, all that need be done is to swing the latch 68 out of its operative position shown in-.Figl 1 to its inoperative position, as illustrated. by dot-dash lines in Fig, 1. This will permit the entire carrier arm 54'andthe wiper element supported thereby to be` retracted, forwardly, as illustrated. in Fig.. 2, whereby the said substitution of wipers can be etected. The retraction of said arm 54 and the wiper elementgis, also useful. inthatit removes the wiper element from its obstructive position in front of the window when it is desired to gain uninterrupted access thereto.

In the, form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7 to. 12, a reversibleA motor 82 is operatively mounted on the' base 83. The said motor is connected by gears 36a, 35a, 38er and,39a (substantially in the manner hereinabovesdescribedY with reference to the rst form of the invention) totheterminal portion 84er carrier rod 85, said terminali portion 84 being` rotatably supported bythe-bearing 86.' Attheropposite end of carrier rod 85 is-the terminal shaft 87frotatably supported by the bearing portion 88'n1ounted'.' uponbase 89.

AThe. said carrier rod 8S contains a conventional' car rier threadY 90 thereon; and in operative engagementh with saidv thread90 are the, respective threaded' portionsq 91," of' the bored walls 92of wiper-carrier members 93,v 94`and' 95.` Thek said carrier members are mountedl inf spaced relation, and are'so positionedthatupon the oper-M ative rotation of carrier rod 85, they will move in unison alongrportions of' the longitudinal extent of said rod- 85. Asinthe form rst above described, each of said carrier members has spaced dependinglegs 96 and 97 between .v which is4 mounted a wiper arm 98', the latter having acentral bore therethrough through which extends theA guide rodl 99 operatively supported by structures 100 and 1- IOImounted, respectively, on said bases f83`and 89. Each# ofsaid' arms98` is swingably mounted over said rod99, and is maintained? in itsoperative position by a latch; memberg102 pivotally supported by a fastener 103 oli-ones ofsaid depending legs of the corresponding carrier member. As illustrated in Fig; ll, showing the latch in its'y closed position, the; pin 69a is maintained in frictional engagementwith the latch 102 by the action of spring 72aY against the head 70a of said pin, the adjusting screw 73a.maintaining the desired tension in said spring to keep the,I latch 102in its operative position. By operai.- tively lswingingr they latchA 102 into its retracted position v ('as" shownby Athe'dot-dash position of the latchA on carrier 931,' Fig: 7) the coacting wiper arrn 98 can be retracted?A inv the" manner aforesaid. The wiper element 62a is; pivotally/supported upon arm 98 in the manner above'- described with respect to the rst form illustrated.

This particular embodiment shows water reservoirs 1041 mounted on each of said carriermembers 93, 94"Y and 95. Extending downwardly from the base 105- off each of said reservoirs are two pipes 106and'107, these@ extending into the legs 96 and 97 of the respective carriers. In the arrangement illustrated, inclined' ducts 108?- communicate with the terminals ofv each ofsaid pipes 106 and 107, the rear outlet of each of said ducts acing. thewindow 22a, asillustrated in Fig. 8.

It'willturtherbenoted that carrier 93` has an outwardly protruding stud 109 maintained in positionv by the-locki`ng screw 110; and carrier 95 has aH similanbut oppositely positioned outwardly extending-stud 111`main-1 tainediin position bythe screw 112'; These studs;l are positioned;Y for' operative', en gagementy with the,v respective) contact arms 113 and 114 .ofl the-respectivemicroswitchest 115 and 116. As shown in Fig. 7, stud 111 is in engagement with arm 114, the latter having been brought into engagement with contact 113 of the microswitch 116. The saidstud 109 is also adapted for engagement with arm 113, for bringing the arm into electrical engagement with the contact 117 on microswitch 115. Electrical conductors 119, 120 and 121, 122 are electrically connected to the said reversible motor 82 in known manner. The arrangement is such that when the circuit is operatively closed through microswitch 115, the motor 82 will operate in one direction; and when the circuit is operatively closed through microswitch 116, the motor 82 will operate in the opposite direction, all in well-known manner. No detailed description of the circuit connecting the respective microsW-itches and reversible motor 82 is herein given, since such construction is of conventional nature and is well known to those skilled in the art, and further because such a detailed description will not further aid in an understanding of the present invention.

From the above description it is apparent that when the motor 82 operates in one direction, the carrier rod 85 Will operate in a corresponding direction, whereupon the three wiper-carrier members 93, `94 and 95 will move in unison in one direction. This continues until one of the end carriers, such as carrier 95, reaches an end position, such as is illustrated in Fig. 7. When the microswitch 116 is operatively actuated, the circuit is closed through microswitch 116, causing a reversing of motor 82, thereby also causing a reversed movement of carrier rod 85 and the three carriers operatively mounted upon it. Similarly, when the carrier 93 reaches the extreme left position, the microswitch 115 will be actuated, in the manner described, to close the circuit through microswitch 115 and thereby cause a change of direction of motor 82.

It is thus apparent that as long as the motor 82 continuously operates, there will be a continuous windowcleaning operation of the three carrier members, the actoin being of reciprocating nature, for the reasons hereinabove given; and inasmuch as there are a plurality of wiper members, it is evident that the cleaning action can be very rapid.

This embodiment is further provided with adjustable means to enable the entire unit to be moved vertically along a window, so as to enable different sections of the window to be cleaned. The lateral window :trames 123 and 124 each contains a track 125, each having therein a longitudinal T-slot 126. The respective bases 83 and 89 on opposite sides of the window contain bolts 127 the heads 128 of which are slidably positioned within said T-slots. To adjustably move the unit to a new position, the nuts 129 are loosened, whereupon the entire unit can be slidably moved to a desired new position, whereafter the nuts 129 are tightened to secure the unit in such position.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 13 to 15, a carrier rod 85a and guide rod 99a are employed, these being substantially analagous to the correspondingly numbered components of Figs. 7 to l2. Mounted on the upper carrier member 130 is the reservoir 131, supplying Water to a plurality of carrier members, in a manner to be hereinafter described. `Carrier member 130 contains the threaded bored portion 132, whereby the operative rotation of carrier rod 85a will cause an operative movement of carrier 130 and its associated parts substantially in the manner above described.

'Ihe said carrier member 130 contains a short depending leg 133, and substantially parallel and in spaced relation thereto the elongated bar 134. Disposed between leg 133 and bar 134 is the upper wiper-element arm 135 swingably mounted upon guide rod 99a. Pivotally mounted on bar 134 at 136 is the latch 137, preventing a retraction of said arm 135, in the manner aforesaid.

The said bar 134 contains the upper portion 138, the intermediate portion 139 and the bottommost portion 140, these being progressively offset with respect to each other. Extending through and supported by the top of` intermediate portion 139 is the stud 141 upon-the shank of which the intermediate' wiper arm 143 is rotatably of which is rotatably mounted the wiper arm 145. Wiper elements 146, 147 and 148 are pivotally mounted upon their respective-arms 135, 143 and 145 by the brackets 149, in the manner aforesaid. The rear edges 150'of..V

all said wiper elements are in one plane, so that they may simultaneously engage an adjacent window during the operative movement of the carrier 133 in the longitudinal direction of said carrier rod 85a. The said latch 137, as well as the latches 151 and 152, are retractable, to permit the respective arms 135, 143 and 145 to be operatively retracted, together with the associated wiper elements 146, 147 and 148. It will be noted that the latter are in overlapping relation, so as to assure that all portions of the window are operatively engaged by the wipers with no spaces therebetween. Because of the above-described offset relationship of portions 138, 139 and 140 of the carrier bar 134, all three wiper elements can be operatively retracted without interference.

Fig. 15 shows the latch construction employed in this embodiment of my invention. The latc'h 152, of spring material, has an inwardly curved portion 153 in engagement with the corresponding wiper arm 145, thereby yieldably holding it in position against the window.

Extending down Ifrom the base of reservoir 131 is the main water feed pipe 154, having branches 155, 156, 157 and 158 leading into spaced portions of carrier bar 134. The said branches communicate with channels 159 which terminate in outlets 160 adjacent the Wiper elements. In this manner a plurality of sprays can be directed against the window during the operative wiping `action of this device.

With the last-described embodiment of my invention it is apparent that vertically aligned sections of a window can be simultaneously cleaned by a plurality of coacting Wiper elements.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any speciiic -form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations Iare specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In an automatic window-cleaning device, a wiper element, a carrier member, a rotatable threaded carrier rod, means to rotate said rod, elongated guide means parallel to said rod, said carrier member having an arm supporting said wiper element and two open-ended apertured portions, water conduit means, an apertured portion on said conduit means disposed above said wiper element and facing generally rearwardly, said rod extending through one of said apertured portions and said guide means extending through the other of said apertured portions, said arm being rotatably and slidably mounted over said elongated guide means, said carrier member being in threaded engagement with said carrier rod and in slidable engagement with said guide means, whereby the operative rotation of said carrier rod will cause an operative movement of said carrier member and said arm and wiper element in the direction of the longitudinal extent of said rod.

2. In an automatic window-cleaning device, a wiper element, a carrier member supporting said element, a rotatable threaded carrier rod, means to rotate said rod, an elongated tube parallel to said rod, said carrier member having an arm supporting said wiper element and two open-ended apertured portions, said rod extending through one of said apertured portions and said tube extending through -the other of said apertured portions, said 

